賢い
kashikoi
The Japanese word for smart is 賢い (kashikoi).
賢い is used to describe someone or something exhibiting intellectual knowledge, wisdom or cleverness. It is often used to describe animals or even inanimate objects, such as describing a smart choice as being resourceful or clever.
Meaning: exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 賢い implies wisdom or cleverness, the phrase 頭がいい (atama ga ii) is a more common, colloquial way to say someone is smart or has a high IQ.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
賢い is an i-adjective, which means it can directly precede a noun to modify it.
How do you pronounce it?
kashikoi
Did you know?
- The phrase 頭が切れる (atama ga kireru), which literally means 'the head cuts', is used to describe someone who is sharp or quick-witted. This is a more aggressive, high-energy version of being 'smart'.
- Japanese has a specific word, 利口 (rikou), which means 'smart' but carries a nuance of being obedient or well-behaved. It is often used for children and dogs who follow instructions perfectly.
- While 賢い (kashikoi) describes wisdom, using it to compliment a person's intelligence can sometimes feel as though you are talking to a child or a talented pet.
Examples in context
- トムは賢い。Tom is smart.This sentence is useful for showing how to say Tom is smart using 賢い.Tatoeba #8597488 by small_snow, translation #1024870 by CK
- 猫は賢いよ。Cats are smart.This sentence is useful for showing how to say cats are smart using 賢い.Tatoeba #10603327 by small_snow, translation #2900859 by Hybrid
- カラスは賢い鳥です。Crows are smart birds.This sentence is useful for describing crows as smart birds using 賢い.Tatoeba #11584402 by small_snow, translation #5807177 by Hybrid
- Kare wa tensai desu. (彼は天才です。)He is a genius.
- Kanojo wa chie ga aru hito desu. (彼女は知恵がある人です。)She is a wise person.
- Ano ko wa sugoku kashikoi na. (あの子はすごく賢いな。)That kid is really smart.
- Omae wa rikai ga hayai na. (お前は理解が早いな。)You're quick to understand.
- Ano hito wa atama ga ii yo. (あの人は頭がいいよ。)That person is smart.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a classmate's academic ability.
- 陽葵 Himari彼はとても賢い学生ですね。Kare wa totemo kashikoi gakusei desu ne.He is a very smart student, isn't he?
- 健太 Kentaはい、勉強がとても得意です。Hai, benkyou ga totemo tokui desu.Yes, he is very good at studying.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんはどう思いますか？Kenta-san wa dou omoimasu ka?What do you think, Kenta?
- 健太 Kenta本当に賢い人だと思います。Hontou ni kashikoi hito da to omoimasu.I think he is a truly smart person.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 賢い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
